As the Government Equalities Office launches its Body Confidence Campaign, one woman tells her story of scars and survival

Yesterday, Jo Swinson and the Government Equalities Office launched a Body Confidence Campaign Progress Report, designed to tackle body image issues affecting women and girls of all ages.

The campaign aims to promote healthy body confidence, to both tackle the rising obesity crisis and help women feel valued for themselves, rather than what they look like.

Some of the startling statistics highlighted by the report include that half of women feel under pressure to look good at all times, and 46% feel pressure to lose weight.

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"There is widespread agreement that low body confidence is a significant social and public health problem in the UK," the report states, also arguing that it's an issue which impacts women and girls more than men and boys.

At the same time, Bio-Oil is launching its 'skin stories' campaign (#myskinstory), designed to show women who have scars or stretch marks that they're not alone. Only one in five of us believes that all women have them – when in fact, the average woman has three scars, and 43% boast stretch marks.

Bio-oil also conducted their own body confidence survey, which revealed that over a quarter of us have avoided going out because of lack of confidence. When your feelings about your body stop you having fun with your friends, it's clearly time to get serious about body confidence issues.

The latest issue ofCosmo Body showcases the stories of three amazing women who are proud of the scars they bear. And Georgia Purser, 21, knows how it feels to learn to live with them all too well. "Last year, I was involved in an accident when my boyfriend lost control of his car," says Georgia, from the Isle of Wight.

"The main impact was on the passenger side where I was sitting, and I blacked out. The first thing I remember is touching my legs to see if I could feel them. Thankfully I could, but one of my bones had penetrated my skin and I was in agony, trapped on the car.

"I had to be cut out, which took around two hours, followed by six hours of surgery. They placed metal rods in my legs and a metal plate in my arm and was in hospital for ten days. I had to learn to stand up and walk again, which is the hardest thing I've ever had to do, and I'm still recovering today."

Georgia was lucky to be alive – but she was left scars on both her legs and arms. "One of the main things I remember from after the accident is seeing the scars I was left with – I absolutely hated them," she says.

"I'm only young, and body image means a lot to me. To top it off, I'd always felt my legs were my best asset. To see such horrible scars made me feel sick and ugly. I was worried people would stare at them – that has actually happened a few times, and it's really knocked my confidence.

"I've used Bio-Oil to help heal them, and that combined with the natural healing process and time has really made a difference to the appearance. Luckily, I've gained the confidence to get my legs out again – knowing I survived the accident makes me feel like I should show them off.

"My sister tells me they're my battle wounds and I should embrace them – which I'm now trying to do. From time to time I do still get down looking at pictures of my legs from when they were scar-free, but they just add character to my body, like tattoos do to people, so I'm finally learning to love them!"

Georgia's story shows us how we should all learn to accept and love our bodies – whatever their size, shape or appearance. They get us around, keep us alive, and do a million amazing things a day. It's time body confidence became something we all take for granted – and the battle starts here.

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